Notes

Pacquiao entered as the # 1 pound-for-pound fighter and # 1 welterweight in the world according to The Ring Magazine. Mosley, a 6/1 betting underdog [1], was the # 3 welterweight by the same publication. [2]

Pacquiao entered having won 13 consecutive bouts dating back to 2005. Mosley came in with a record of 2-2-1 in his previous five fights.

On April 12th, promoter Bob Arum officially announced that the fight was a sell out. [4]

Pacquiao was guaranteed a minimum of $20 million by Top Rank, while Mosley was guaranteed at least $5 million. [5]

Bout Summary

Official Fight Poster

The opening two rounds saw both fighters be measured in their attack. In Round 3, Pacquiao began to open up and landed a left hand that sent Mosley down. Following the knockdown, an already stiff-legged and tense appearing Mosley turned almost wholly defensive for the remainder of the bout. Pacquiao came forward and threw, but Mosley, following the knockdown, seemed to have little interest in exchanging. He threw predominately a jab and retreated as Pacquiao moved in. Among the largest connections of the night, were head clashes which plagued the bout despite neither fighter developing a cut. In Round 10, Pacquiao went to the mat from a push as Mosley was standing on his foot. Referee Kenny Bayless, however, did not see it as such and ruled it a knockdown. Often to a chorus of boos, Mosley was content, and hinted at such in the post-fight interview, to accepting a decision loss to protect his status of having never been knocked out.

Comments

"I just fought the best fighter in the world. He has exceptional power. I've never been hit like that before." - Shane Mosley

"I couldn't move because my left leg got tight" Pacquiao said. "It's a problem I have been having." Added trainer Freddie Roach: "He came back in the fourth round with muscle cramps in his left leg... It was a very gutty performance in my mind because of his leg."